Keeping Small Pets Healthy

You’ve got big love for your little face-tickler, so it goes without saying you’ll want to keep him happy and healthy for years to come.

So without further a-scoot, here are the:

Top 5 ways to keep your small pet’s wheel a-turnin’.

1. Feed the right food to your furry friends.

Sure, he’s definitely a member of your family, but your ravenous rodent really shouldn’t eat human food. Though he may be happily inhaling it, your meals will more than likely make him sick.

2. Make sure their burrow’s big and clean.

Small animals actually live better, healthier lives in large abodes, like spacious hutches and cages. And if you can’t go really luxe, really tidy will do.

3. Line up a good vet, for pet’s sake.

It’s best to find a vet who knows small animals like the back of their paw.

4. Know how to spot signs of illness.

Rabbits and guinea pigs are fabulous actors, especially if the part entails hiding that they’re sick. So, you’ll want to be on the lookout for unusual behaviour, such as turning up their twitching little noses to food or drink. Other signs can include:

laboured breathing

wheezing

crusty eyes

sneezing

rough or puffed up coat

dull and/or receding eyes

lethargy, hunched posture

diarrhoea

blood in urine

limping

hair loss, excessive scratching

loss of balance

5. Keep your beady eyes open to behaviour changes.

Always keep your eyes open to any changes in your scuttling sidekick’s behaviour. If you see any, it may be time to visit your vet.